The Igbo and the threat of secession

By Dr Moses George

These are trying times for all those who believe in Nigeria which is caught in a tapestry of challenges that is threatening its very foundations. The Boko Haram insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, surging banditry, violence in the northwest, incessant farmer/herder conflicts in the middle belt and agitations for secession are some of the challenges that are all crowding in at the same time on our dear nation. Could all these be a set up to annihilate Nigeria?

The agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has now assumed a dangerous dimension. The chief aim of the separatist organization is to restore an independent state of Biafra. The group was founded in 2012 Nnamdi Kanu, a British – Nigerian who has been vigorously advocating for the emergence of Biafra.

The Igbos under the auspices of IPOB are not only hell bent on secession, but are presently engaged in activities that indicate that a transient government in place has launched a violent Igbo campaign against the Nigerian State. Is the aggression of IPOB a ploy to re-enact another Civil War after 50 years? If the aggression continuous unabated, will Nigeria’s government eventually react by declaring war on the region?

That the agitation for secession by the Igbos is fast gaining momentum is not an overstatement. Alleged insensitivity of the federal government under President Buhari against the plight of the Igbo people is being touted as the factor refueling the struggle for Biafra’s independence. Is there is anything that President Buhari has done in office till date that can justify a violent call for secession? While it may be true that the Buhari administration has been lop-sided in its appointments and has poorly managed the security and economic challenges of the country, he has never openly called for the marginalization of the Igbos or made any pronouncement to imply such. Why has IPOB taken up arms against the Nigerian state when its people are not the only ones affected by the lingering social and economic challenges prevalent in Nigeria?

For decades, many Igbo people, including the media have peddled wrong narratives about Nigeria both within and outside the country about the state of things, especially as it concerns the Igbos. Nigeria’s history right from 1958 when the first all Nigerian cabinet headed by a Nigerian elected Prime Minister (as it prepares for independence in 1960) does not supports the false account of marginalization of Igbos as they claim.

For the records, the first indigenous Federal Permanent Secretary even before Nigeria’s independence was an Igbo man — Mr. Francis Nwokedi. Mr. Nwokedi who was promoted two weeks ahead of Dr. S.O Wey (who later in 1961 became the first Secretary to the Government of the Federation), were the first two indigenous Federal Permanent Secretaries in the colonial government. The two men were the doyen of Nigerian civil service.

It is also worthy to mention that the first indigenous Commanding Officer of Nigerian Army — Aguiyi Ironsi was an Igbo man. To facilitate his appointment, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa broke rank with his Northern People Congress, colleagues and Sir Ahmadu Bello and went ahead to appoint Ironsi even when there was a number of issues raised against him by the last British General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army, Major General Christopher Welby-Everard.

An intractable fact of history that should not be ignored was that the Igbos dominated the top stratum of the army and Federal Civil/Public Service for several years from 1958. Till date, Abia, Anambra and Imo States have the largest number of indigenes in the Federal Civil Service.

Since we are all in agreement that Nigeria has some historical animus, we must also be honest with ourselves to acknowledge and confront them. Trading blames will keep us far away from reality as no tribe or group will be completely exonerated. The persecution mentality that many Igbos have carried for so long must be rejected because it does not represent their reality. It is nothing but a distorted account of history that is now blowing ill wind throughout Igboland.

From whatever perspective one may choose to look at it, Nigeria has been fair to all tribes, including Igbos. While each tribe has a justification to complain of not having enough, any tribe that complains of being singled out to have the short end of the stick is simply being deceitful and mischievous. Since Nigeria is a project in progress, to demand perfection at this point is an unrealistic.

Even though the Igbos have been shouting to high heavens of being marginalized, there is however no strong argument to support that claim. From all indications, marginalization exists in the imaginations of the arrow heads of this agitation, and they have successfully brain washed their gullible followers to subscribe to this dangerous fallacy.

To say that the Igbos have had the best of Nigeria more than any other tribe is an understatement. Even as they continue to blackmail Nigeria with their victim mentality, the Igbos are still the biggest beneficiaries of Nigeria’s diversity. They are well received and accommodated in every part of this country. They freely engage in all kinds of enterprises across the country without any form of hindrance.

Igbos are probably the biggest real estate owners among all Nigerian tribes. Records shows that over 60 percent of houses, plazas, hotels, housing estates, etc in Abuja are owned by them. They are big players in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Port Harcourt and in every part of Nigeria, including villages and even hamlets. In contrast, how many Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ijaw, Kanuri, Tiv, Igala, etc own properties or businesses in any part of South Eastern Nigeria? Do the Igbos sell land to non Igbos in South Eastern Nigeria the same way they freely acquire land and own properties in other parts of country?

Under President Jonathan, Igbos got more appointments than Jonathan’s own Ijaw people. Igbos got key federal appointments with Senator Pius Anyim as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. During this period, did other tribes bitterly complain the way Igbos are now doing over appointments? Come to think of it, which statutory appointments have the Igbos been denied under President Buhari?

Clearly, what the Igbos really want is to be given all top positions in a government which they rejected and are showing unprecedented antagonism, even though the government is doing a lot for them in terms of infrastructural development the way no other government has done since 1960. In his two presidential contests, Buhari, made top Igbo politicians his running mate.

A close examination of the Federal budget from 2016 will reveal that the Buhari administration spent more money on infrastructures in Igbo land in the past 6 years than it has done in Buhari’s own North Western region. For all the special intervention supports that the Federal Government gives to all States of the Nigeria, has the Buhari administration denied the South Eastern States what is due to them because the Igbos didn’t vote for him? The Igbos should have a rethink and be grateful for all the these projects — the Second Niger Bridge, Enugu – Port Harcourt Express, Awka – Enugu Express, Owerri – Port Harcourt Express, Port Harcourt – Aba road and all the other federal roads that are being reconstructed across the region.

It appears that the Igbo leaders are more concerned with federal appointments than with projects that will benefit the generality of their people. If it so, how did all the appointments held by the Igbos just before Buhari came on board benefitted the south east? The following positions were held by Igbos: Chief of Army Staff, Comptroller General of Immigration, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, Minister of Aviation, Director-General of Pension Commission, Executive Chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission, Minister of Power etc

In successions, Stella Oduah and Osita Chidoka held the positions of Ministers of Aviation, yet these two Igbo son and daughter couldn’t do anything to repair the Enugu Airport in 5 years. What about Dr. Sam Amadi, Professor Bath Nnaji and Professor Chinedu Nebo who superintended over the power sector for 6 years? Did they use their positions to improve power supply in eastern Nigeria? As a matter of fact, with Igbo sons heading the power sector for 6years, the legal logjam between Emeka Offor’s, Enugu Distribution Company and Geometric Power owned by another Igbo man to supply regular electricity to Aba couldn’t be resolved.

For those advocating for referendum, the Nigerian constitution does not make provision for referendum. However, if the Federal Government will allow a mock referendum to take place, it is most likely that majority of Igbos will vote to remain citizens of Nigeria rather than Biafra. Those of them who dare to be honest in their appraisal will acknowledge that Nigeria has been fair to them in every sense of the word.

In conclusion, it is unfortunate that the leaders of the proscribed IPOB and other proponents of secession are using insults, hate speech and aggression as tools of their campaign. It is time for the Igbo elites to muster enough courage to condemn the dangerous activities of IPOB and all the gullible Igbo youths that are being used to carry out its destructive agenda. It is time for the Igbos to engage in realistic and constructive reflections over their wild goose chase. The proscribed IPOB is an ill wind that will blow nothing, but set back and destruction to all Igbo people all over Nigeria.

Even though self-determination is a fundamental principle in international law and is enshrined in the AU and UN charter, it should be done in accordance with the law and international standards. Therefore, IPOB and the people of eastern Nigeria must avoid all the killings, arson and other activities that can endanger lives and properties of the Igbo people. IPOB and all the other groups agitating for Biafra should focus on the overall interest of the Igbo people above anything else.

The Igbos should reflect on this: Why should they risk their present healthy and robust economic activities all over Nigeria — the world’s largest black nation for Biafra. Is a landlocked Biafra surrounded by a possibly hostile Nigeria the best option for Igbos?

Dr Moses George is the Managing Editor of Capital Post